THE FALCON TIMES
4 June 14, 2010—Volume 47, Issue 16
a Est. 1961 b
Visit us online at www.mdc.edu/falcontimes 8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Page 2
MDC Tops List College earns top place in list of minority degree-granting schools
Page 5
Textbook Rental New book rental program goes easy on student’s pursestrings
PHOTO COURTESY OF CRISTIAN LAZZARI/ MDC MEDIA RELATIONS
Caps and gowns: Miami Dade Honors College students celebrate at the North and West campus commencement ceremony on May 1.
Turning the GRADUATION
Page 7
SGA Elections Complete campaign results and elected officers’ profiles
Tassel
GOOGLE MAPS
Putting Miami Dade College on the map Page 8
Summer Movies A preview of the summer’s not-to-miss blockbuster movies
Page 9
Softball Champs Lady Sharks return victorious from Utah
Google Maps hit the streets of Miami this summer to showcase MDC on its Street View feature. Jeannie L. Rodriguez Features Editor Google is mapping the world one street at a time. This summer, it was Miami Dade College’s turn. Using a bulky, 250-pound, three-wheeled bicycle they road along the pathways at all eight MDC campuses in early May. Two Google Maps bikers used the Google Trike, a tricycle with a pole-mounted camera in the rear, to maneuver around tight spaces and literally put MDC on the map. The images are expected to be available on Google Maps somewhere between the next three to six months, according to Elaine Filadelfo, in charge of Google’s global communications and public affairs. “The Kendall, North and
Wolfson campuses have buildings that are important in the history of architecture,” said Rene Ramos, archives director for MDC, “so being able to do a street view and get a really close look at some of the architectural features of those buildings becomes a good educational tool.” MDC is one of several colleges being mapped. Google has already added photos from San Diego State University, Penn State and Boston University to Street View and has started working with several others, including University of Pennsylvania, UC-Boulder and Rochester Institute of Technology, Filadelfo said. “We’re looking at adding a wide-range of interesting places to Google Maps, from areas all around the country,” Filadelfo added. “The administration [at Continued on Page 5
More than 1,000 students from Miami Dade College’s North and West campuses celebrated during commencement ceromonies at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables. Alexandra de Armas Managing Editor
W
hen Sahel Alizadea arrived in the United States from Iran in 2006, she didn’t know a word of English. But she promised herself that she would get an education. Four years later, Alizadea,
made good on that promise and was one of 1,042 students who participated in the commencement ceremonies for Miami Dade College’s North and West campuses at the BankUnited Center on May 1. “I wasn’t sure I was going to make it to graduation,” said Alizadea, a 24-year-old biology major, who is scheduled to complete her studies at MDC later this summer. “I was very doubtful and extremely scared. Continued on Page 6
TRAIL OF DREAMS
End of the road; MDC’s DREAMers back home
Alexandra de Armas Managing Editor Standing on the steps of the historic Freedom Tower— hands covering her heart and tears streaming down her face— Gaby Pacheco announced that she is happy to be home. “We [don’t] need a GPS anymore because this is our home,” Pacheco said. “These were the streets that I grew up on. How can anyone tell me that I do not belong here?” Pacheco is one of four former or current Miami Dade College students— Carlos Roa, Felipe Matos and Juan Rodriguez are the others—who embarked on a 1,500 mile walk to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 1 in protest of immigration reform. Five months later, a crowd of almost 100 people welcomed the Continued on Page 2
1,500
Miles
Total distance covered by the DREAMers
WASHINGTON, D.C. RICHMOND VA
GREENSBORO
RALEIGH
CHARLOTTE
NC
SC
ATLANTA
AMERICUS
GA
TALLAHASSEE GAINESVILLE
ORLANDO
FL
NOT ALL STOPS ARE SHOWN
MIAMI
GRAPHIC BY LAZARO GAMIO / FALCON TIMES STAFF
news
Page 2 June 14, 2010
PHOTO BY O. DANILO BALLADARES / METROPOLIS STAFF
Protesting: (From left) Gaby Pacheco, Juan Rodriguez (with glasses), Carlos Roa and Felipe Matos stand together during the rally in Washington, D.C.
Student activists decend on the White House; return home Continued from Cover walkers back on a typical, hot and muggy Miami afternoon. They were serenaded with cheers of “education not deportation.” “This was a walk for love. We did this because our community can no longer live with the fear of being deported,” Roa said. “That is why I walked, because I was tired of living in the shadows, voiceless and waiting for my deportation.” The quartet, whose mission was dubbed “The Trail of Dreams,” faced adversity during their voyage. Three of the walkers faced the possibility of being deported, because they are undocumented immigrants.
They walked through the heat, rain and the snow using three pairs of sneakers each to finish their mission. Not all the communities they walked through were welcoming. They encountered the Ku Klux Klan, and some people spewed racially hateful comments at them. “In North Carolina, a man looked me in the eyes and said I was not completely human,” Matos said. “I just looked at him and said ‘God bless you.’ ’’ The walkers’ demonstration was documented by the main stream media. The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Miami Herald wrote articles about the
Trail of Dreams. Univi sion and CNN interviewed them. “I consider them as our generation’s heroes,” said Camila Silva, a member of Students Working for Equal Rights at the Kendall Campus. “And I hope that one day they will be given the credit for everything they have fought for. If we don’t have people that are courageous like them, to speak for those that can’t speak, nothing will ever happen.” Their goal, they say, is to end the separation of families and the deportation of students like themselves, who according to Roa, are “only here to contribute to society and who only come to this country to study.”
The group took that message with them when they reached Washington D.C. on April 28. They walked the last six miles to the White House with a group of 4,000 people representing 20 states. They reached their destination on May 1. When they arrived at the White House, the walkers spoke to Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Barack Obama. They presented her a petition with 40,000 signatures asking the administration to stop the deportation of DREAM Act students and undocumented immigrants that are either parents or spouses to U.S. citizens. “We can no longer live in a system that oppresses people…”
Roa said. “We need to stand up and reclaim our humanity. It must be acknowledged by the U.S. government.” Jarrett agreed to a meeting later this month, in which the walkers will be given the administration’s answer. “I felt emotional by the moment, yet still felt the responsibility to keep fighting and continue being the voice of all the undocumented students in the United States,” Matos said. The four walkers said they will continue to fight for the rights of undocumented immigrants and for immigration reform. “I was someone who believed in change,” Matos said, “and now I know that change is possible.”
NATION
College earns top marks in degrees awarded to minorities Michael Finch II News Editor Miami Dade College is featured as the country’s top associate degree producer for minorities in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine’s June 10 issue. Th e magazin e focuses on minority issues in higher education and produces the rankings annually by counting the degrees awarded to separate minority groups and then the institution with the greatest total. The rankings are based on information each institution submits to the Department of Education from the previous school year. The most recent numbers reflect the 2008-09 school year. Statistics from Diverse show
that MDC awarded more than 6,000 associate degrees to minorities for the 2008-2009 school year. That number does not include the 171 bachelor’s degrees or the 1,105 certificates MDC awarded during that period. Frederic Toney, North Campus academic advisement and career services assistant director, said that advisers are one of the key contributors when it comes to
1st place: MIAMI DADE COLLEGE Total degrees awarded to minorities in respective years
08 09 07 08
helping students graduate and transfer. “We are a roadmap,” Toney said. “We help to make sure students position themselves when they leave here, to walk across the stage at graduation and right into another college or university.” Miami Dade College, one of the few institutions with an open door policy, first opened in 1960 as Dade County Junior College.
6,293 5,776
Now, 50 years later, the college has conferred thousands of degrees and has continued to reinforce its motto that “opportunity changes everything.” The College has eight campuses and more than 170,000 students. Toney, an employee in student services at the college since November 2004, added that MDC’s best characteristic, as an institution of higher education,
2nd place:
4th place:
UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX —ONLINE CAMPUS
VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
08 09
5,021
07 08
2,256
08 09
1,956
07 08
1,660
3rd place:
5th place:
BROWARD COLLEGE
EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
08 09
2,462
07 08
2,117
08 09
1,872
07 08
1,771
is that it has an open door policy. “We are a college that is open to the entire community, where anyone is welcome,” said Toney. A Fall 2008 enrollment study by the college’s institutional research department shows that 52 percent of MDC students were first-generation college graduates. North Campus student Chri st el le Fleurius, w ho graduated this past May with her sister Martine Fleurius, is one such case. C h r i st el l e Fl e u r iu s , a Haitian-American student, who was accepted into American University in Washington D.C., credits MDC with preparing her for her future endeavors. “I really learned so much,” Fleurius said.
www.mdc.edu/falcontimes
10657-Miami Dade College:10280-The Cushman
5/18/10
11:36 AM
Page 1
a global perspective in your own backyard
BARRY UNIVERSITY brings the world to you, with students and faculty from across the U.S. and 119 countries • The secondlargest private, Catholic university in the Southeast • More than 100 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs Main campus in Miami Shores
www.barry.edu/MDC
Arts and Sciences • Business • Education • Health Sciences • Human Performance and Leisure Sciences • Law • Podiatric Medicine • Public Administration • Social Work Main Campus: 11300 NE Second Avenue • Miami Shores, Florida 33161-6695 • 800-695-2279
news
Page 4 June 14, 2010
UIN BRIEF 1
1
MATH COMPETITION
ENDOWED TEACHING CHAIRS
The Wolfson Campus math team won first place at the Math Olympics held at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. The team, consisting of Jose Rodriguez, Steven Carrera, Alejo Stark and Luis Larco, competed against 24 other teams statewide. In addition, Rodriguez won first place in the individual competition. The competition consists of three exams: A 40-question multiple choice exam, a graphing calculators portion and 10 reallife application exercises. The Wolfson Campus math team placed third in the Math Olympics in 2009 and second in 2008.
Eight Miami Dade College professors have been chosen as the recipients for the 2010 Endowed Teaching Chairs. The award is the College’s highest faculty recognition. The winners are selected by a committee of their peers. Factors include: A professor’s personal growth and their use of effective teaching strategies. This year’s honorees, who will receive an annual stipend of $7,500 to be used during a three year period, add to the nearly 300 recipients awarded since 1992.
—MONIQUE MADAN
COURTESY OF THE MDC MATH TEAM
2
3
O. DANILO BALLADARES / WOLFSON BUREAU
HONOREES The Col. Mitchell Wolfson, Sr., Endowed Teaching Chair
Mario Ortega
For more information about the math team, contact:
The Dr. Robert H. McCabe Endowed Teaching Chair
Professor Alvio Dominguez
Lyle D. Culver
(305) 237-3114
The Rosenberg-McIntosh-Leigh Foundations Endowed Teaching Chair
TECHNOLOGY AWARD
MONIQUE MADAN / FALCON TIMES STAFF
—ALEXANDRA KRAMER
Miami Dade College North Campus student Grace Terc received the 2010 Terry O’Banion Student Technology Award. The award is given to students who are committed to technology, their communities and education. The award is presented by the League for Innovation in the Community College, and by the League Distinguished Partner Microsoft Corporation. Terc received the award for Student Developer Champion, which included a cash prize of $4,500 and a supply of software products, courtesy of Microsoft.
3
—ZORAIDA PASTOR
2
NEW DIGITAL MARQUEE
The North Campus has a new addition, a digital marquee located at the intersection of Northwest119th Street and Lake Road. The marquee will be fully functional later this summer. The sign is a replacement for the theater marquee which was damaged by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It will be linked with the existing digital marquee on Northwest 113th Street and 27th Avenue and will be operational 24 hours, seven days a week. It will be used to promote MDC academic programs, events and other MDC related items, said Cristina Mateo, North Campus’ dean for administration. “The marquee is using brand new software, has high resolution and is loaded with capabilities,” said Kenny Silva, manager of media services at North Campus.
Annmarie Masi The AT&T Endowed Teaching Chair
Ian Cobham George W. Jenkins/Publix Supermarkets Endowed Teaching Chair
Steven Ritter The Esther T. Colliflower, RN Endowed Teaching Chair
Valerie De Angelis The Peter H. Clayton Endowed Teaching Chair
Dorothy Avondstondt The Mac Smith Endowed Teaching Chair for the Environmental Ethics
Christopher Migliaccio
3
CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE
Miami Dade College President Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón and a delegation of Chinese officials participated in the signing and opening celebration of the Confucius Institute at the MDC’s Wolfson Campus in April. The business, culture and language center is the first of its kind in South Florida. The program is a partnership with China’s Ministr y of Education. The institute will offer Chinese Mandarin instruction, business seminars, culinary, history, calligraphy courses, traditional medicine workshops and art exhibitions. MDC’s Confucius Institute joins 65 others in the U.S. and more than 500 around the world. —MONIQUE MADAN For more information about the Confucius Institute, contact: Rosey Yang-Krivak
(305) 237-3122 —ALEXANDRA KRAMER O. DANILO BALLADARES / WOLFSON BUREAU
www.mdc.edu/falcontimes
news
June 14, 2010
GOOGLE MAPS
Mapping out Miami Dade College Continued from Cover MDC] was very welcoming and accommodating, so we’re excited to be able to work together.” Google’s primary way of taking photos is with their specially adapted Street View cars, first launched in 2007. To reach areas not accessible by car, like college campuses for example, Google created the “Trike,” and launched its photos last summer with its first run through LEGOLAND in California. Google also launched its first Street View Snowmobile in February of this year to take images on the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Slopes in preparation for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Wendy Wang, operations
program manager for Google Maps, said on the company’s blog that the Trike has gone through a few different versions to get to where it is now. “The first [Trike] came in at 500 pounds,” said Wang, “and the newest version has slimmed down to 300 pounds. Believe me, our riders are very happy about that.” According to Filadelfo, there are only about a dozen Google bikers around the world, traveling from location to location in teams of two. “We hire riders especially for this project,” Filadelfo said. “We need an athletic team to ride the 250-pound Trike around all day. The teams rotate turns riding and act as safety riders to scout terrain and help in case of any
incidents.” Filadelfo said photos take at least a few months to go up on Google Maps, since they do a lot of high-tech image processing to turn the photos into the interactive, 360-degree experience. Images are updated every two to three years from their Street View cars, but no timetable has been set up for the Trike just yet. As of today, Google has Street Views in almost 20 countries. That’s a lot of biking. But not everyone is thrilled with Google Maps high-tech operation. “A lot of young kids think the Trike is an ice cream cart,” Filadelfo said. “It’s always a little sad to have to disappoint them.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF PHIL ROCHE / MDC MEDIA RELATIONS
Triking: Google Maps’ hired rider drives the 300 lbs Trike around the Wolfson Campus, capturing areas not accessible by car. This feature will help students find their way around campus.
Page 5
TEXTBOOKS
Students now able to rent books; save money New option aimed at putting money back in students’ pockets will be implemented at Miami Dade College this fall semester. Mark Pulaski Staff Writer One of the biggest headaches college students face is the high cost of textbooks. Miami Dade College students might be getting some relief soon thanks to a program aimed at leaving students with more cash in their pockets. The Follet Corporation, which operates almost 900 college bookstores nationwide, is implementing its Rent-AText program at all eight MDC campuses beginning this fall. The program will save students at least 50 percent on the retail value of books, according Omar Betts, district director for all MDC bookstores. Other schools such as Florida State University and St. Petersburg College have successfully used the project for several years now. Betts said the program is at the forefront to make higher education more affordable. “We don’t compete, we lead,” Betts said. “The rest follow.” In order to participate in the program students must go through a registration process, much like they would at any movie-rental outlet. Students visit the website www.rent-atext.com and provide some basic information such as school name, the student’s name and their e-mail address. A valid credit card is used as collateral, and then students can
walk into the bookstore at any MDC campus and pick up the materials they need. Students can make notes or highlight small sections as if they had purchased the book. Water damage, missing pages and written obscenities will not be tolerated and students in that case would be responsible for the full cost of the book. If at any time a student decides they want to keep the book, they can convert it over to a sale and pay the remainder of the retail value. The thought of saving money has many students across campus eagerly anticipating the arrival of the program. “The books are expensive,” said Mimose Jean, 27, an early childhood education major. “I’m only going to use it for that semester and then it’s going to collect dust in my closet…it’s good to re-think and re-use.” The program is not limited to physical rentals. The Follet Corporation also offers a digital text program through the website www.cafescribe.com. Once registered, students can rent and purchase books, as well as share notes and essays with other students from other schools across the country. “Bringing affordability to course materials is something that has been voiced out by students for years,” said Albert Torres, bookstore director at MDC’s Kendall Campus. “We’re just very excited. We know that it’s going to provide students with viable options that will make the price of textbooks and education more affordable and we’re glad we can partake in that.”
CAMPUS LIFE
College’s surplus warehouse offers great deals for students Theo Karantsalis Staff Writer When computers, printers, televisions, desks, chairs and furniture are sent out to pasture at Miami Dade College, students can get some great deals. The “consolidated warehouse,” located at 8643 N.W. 68th St. in Medley, stores the College’s surplus property. College faculty and staff can visit the Medley warehouse and select items for their office. Bookshelves, hutches and oversized desks are just some of the items employees are able to bring back to their office—free of charge.Students and the general public can find items at reduced rates.
“Everything is priced to sell,” Senior Manager Maria Halloran said. “Computers and laptops sell for $75, chairs for $5.” Prices are subject to change at any time and property is sold “as is.” “That’s a great deal, especially for students low on cash,” said Deandra Cooper, 19, an education major at the Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center. But purchasing an item from the warehouse is not as simple. Students, employees and the public must select an item, then return to Bursar’s Office to pay for it. Once issued an official college receipt, he or she must drive back to Medley to pick it up. “The warehouse can’t accept
www.mdc.edu/falcontimes
payments for items purchased there,” Halloran said. Cooper suggests one day a week or month where students can select and pay for items “on the spot” at the warehouse. “Bet you’d sell a lot more stuff,” said Cooper. The consolidated warehouse in Medley contains several bays, each serving a unique purpose. Furniture, including desks and chairs, as well as electronics such as computers, laptops and other electronics are organized in long rows like crops in a field. Archived college records are neatly stacked and numbered in industrial shelves. Ruben Paz is the supervisor of the Medley warehouse. “We store everything from
computers to furniture to college records,” said Paz, “for all eight campuses.” “The warehouse provides a great help to all the campuses who do not have storage,” said Halloran, who manages records from the time they are archived until final disposition. Halloran said she helps the college and students by ensuring that this information is available “when and where it is needed, in an efficient manner.” What might appear as a simple task is complicated by a strict set of rules. The state of Florida has an 11-page retention schedule that all universities and community colleges must follow, according to Judith Ring, director of the State
Library & Archives of Florida— the agency that publishes the rules. Ring said that retention times vary depending on the type of record. For example, a class schedule needs to be retained “until the end of the semester,” according to the state’s retention rules. Other data, like parking tickets, need to be retained for 180 days. Discipline records must be retained for five years. Enrollment records are retained permanently. “Consolidated Warehouse” Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information: Call (305) 717-6839.
news
Page 6 June 14, 2010
Clinton on MDC: “This place works. It works for you. It works for America.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARLOS LLANO / MDC MEDIA RELATIONS
Commencement: (Top) Former U.S. President Bill Clinton receives an honorary associate of science degree from Miami Dade College President Dr. Eduardo Padrón and the Board of Trustees. (Bottom) North Campus President Dr. José Vicente interacts with graduates after diplomas were received. He spoke to individual students about their time at MDC.
Continued from Cover But I’m here, graduating with honors, I made it.” More than 10,000 MDC students participated in seven separate graduation ceremonies this past May. Former President Bill Clinton, the keynote speaker at the North and West campuses’ graduation ceremony, lauded MDC for its diversity. The College has students from 182 countries, and leads the nation in awarding degrees to Hispanics and African Americans. “I thought that this institution, as much as any college in America, symbolized our future and today I feel that more strongly than ever,” Clinton said. “Ninety six percent of the associate degree holders last year got a job in their field of study within a year in a terrible, terrible economy. This place works. It works for you. It works for America.” Clinton acknowledged that a lot of the graduates at MDC faced great odds getting to graduation. More than half of the students at MDC are first-generation college students, and more than 60 percent are low-income. “This is a big deal to almost every one of you because it was not an easy road,” Clinton said. “Not for you, not for your families, not for the others that helped you.” Shandricka Thomas, an elementary education major, is one such student. Thomas is the first in her family to graduate. “It is an amazing accomplishment. I am honored and I truly feel like a role model for my two younger siblings,” Thomas said. “Gratefully my parents have been very supportive in my educational career.” Two MDC North Campus students received special honors at graduation. Biology student Julia Martinez, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA, was awarded the North Campus
District Board of Trustees Scholarship, a $5,000 award. Martinez plans to attend Wellesley College. Political science student Linda Marie Rodriguez received the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship — a $60,000 award. Hundreds of students compete for the scholarship nationwide each year. Rodriguez, who graduated from MDC with a 3.94 GPA, served as the deputy head delegate for the Model United Nations team at the North Campus while working two jobs and maintaining a full class load in the rigorous Honors College. She plans to attend Georgetown University this fall. “As a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar, I get to fulfill my dreams of obtaining the absolute best education possible,” Rodriguez said. “What’s even better is the opportunity that awaits after all of the schooling - the opportunity of empowering others by sharing all that I have learned and encouraging them to never let go of their dreams. This is my source of happiness.” Rose Davilmar, an adjunct professor in the school of business at MDC, found her own source of happiness at graduation, seeing her students walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. “They are all phenomenal students and the fact that they have taken the time to study, shows their dedication to their future,” Davilmar said. “Like former President Clinton said, we are the business of the future, and we invest in them and we expect a lot from them in return.” North Campus President Dr. José Vicente agreed. “This graduation is the culminating event for some and career markers for others,” Vicente said. “This milestone is certainly one that generates great pride.”
JACK KENT COOKE SCHOLARSHIP
Student receives prestigious scholarship after adversity Monique Madan Editor-in-Chief One by one, Linda Marie Rodriguez crossed them off in her head. North Campus Honors College student: check. Deputy Head delegate for the College’s Model United Nations: check. A member of Phi Theta Kappa: check. With each announced accolade, R o d r i g u e z ’s nervousness grew. She could feel herself sinking into her seat. Then it hit her. “I knew it was me when they said the winner had a 3.94 GPA and [majored] in political science,” said Rodriguez, 20. “I couldn’t believe it.” Rodriguez, who at 17 found herself temporarily homeless,
had won the nationally coveted Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship — a $60,000 award. The announcement was made before thousands of people on May 1, during the commencement ceremony for Miami Dade College’s North and West campuses. Rodriguez watched it all unfold from her fourth-row seat on the floor of the BankUnited Center. “I was so nervous and excited,” Rodriguez said. Hundreds of students from across the nation compete for the scholarship each year. Rodriguez is the fifth MDC student to receive the award. North Campus students have won it the past two years. Fo r m e r Fa l c on Ti m e s managing editor and Honors College student, Anahi Cortada—
currently a junior at Georgetown University in Washington D.C— won it in 2009. “It’s another proud year,” North Campus President Dr. José Vicente exuberantly announced. Rodriguez had a lot to be excited about, but the road has not been easy. When she was 17 years old, Rodriguez’s parents were forced to move to Newark, Ohio because of f in an ci al reasons. Rodriguez Rodriguez decided to stay in Miami with her oldest sister; she would eventually be forced to search for a place of her own. That didn’t deter her. She graduated magna cum laude from Barbara Goleman Senior
High School in 2008. “ Ev e r y t h i n g s h e h a s accomplished has been on her own. It’s not easy not having your parents. I am so proud of her, she has never given up,” said Rodriguez’s mother—Linda Ann Rodriguez, 60—who traveled from Ohio to attend her daughter’s graduation. “Even with so many miles between us, she has always held her course, playing one card at a time.” Today, Rodriguez sees her family about twice a year and rents a room at her boyfriend’s — Yans Campos, 20— parent’s home. “I really can’t complain,” Rodriguez said. “[They] have been phenomenal to me. They treat me like a daughter.” To make ends meet, Rodriguez has worked several jobs at a time, despite tackling a rigorous school schedule in MDC’s Honors
College. She currently works as a student assistant in the social science department. “These jobs have given me skills that I’d probably never find anywhere else. My jobs have made me competitive, given me patience and the perfect work ethic,” Rodriguez said. “Even though I’m not able to volunteer or attend most events at school, I am very gracious to know that I have gained so much.” Rodriguez is poised to gain even more. She plans to study sociology at Georgetown University. Eventually, she wants to attend law school and become a judge. Rodriguez, who has 10 nieces and nephews, wants to be an advocate for children’s rights. “I want to bring a smile to every child in a different way,” she said.
www.mdc.edu/falcontimes
features
June 14, 2010 Page 7
ELECTED SGA OFFICERS HAFEEZA RAHMAN PRESIDENT Hafeeza Rahman, 21, is an international relations major in the Honors College at Miami Dade College. She will serve as the North Campus Student Government Association president for 2010-11 school year. She served as the SGA director of internal affairs last year. In addition, Rahman has also participated as a student delegate in the Model United Nations Conference held in New York.
Newly elected officers gearing up for new year The Miami Dade College North Campus Student Government Association executive board awaits to be sworn in. They hope to step into office and set their sights on the issues for the upcoming school year.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS WINNER HAFEEZA RAHMAN
2nd PLACE 3rd PLACE LAUDELINO DELAWRENCE BLUE GARCIA
519 190 146 VOTES
VOTES
9
VOTERS ABSTAINED
TOTAL VOTES
864
VOTES
ANGELA MACIAS VICE PRESIDENT Angela Macias, 20, is a building construction/ construction management major. She will serve as the North Campus Student Government Association vice president for 2010-11 school year. She has previously served as a senator and membership director for SGA. Macias has been an advocate for issues such as textbook affordability. VICE PRESIDENT ELECTION RESULTS WINNER ANGELA MACIAS
808
56 VOTERS ABSTAINED UNOPPOSED
TOTAL VOTES
864
VOTES
JAROD D. ANDERSON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR JaRod Anderson, 19, is a funeral services and business management major. He will serve as the North Campus Student Government Association governmental relations director for 2010-11 school year. Anderson has previously served as a senator for SGA.
GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR ELECTION RESULTS WINNER JAROD D. ANDERSON
2nd PLACE RONALD FULTON
645 182 VOTES
Monique Madan Editor-in-Chief Mi a m i D a d e C o l l e g e North Campus students have spoken, selecting new Student Government Association officers this past April. An official induction ceremony will be held for the executive board on Friday, June 25 at noon at the Science Complex lecture hall. They will be sworn in by the Honorable Darrin P. Gayles, County Court Judge of the eleventh judicial circuit. “A s your elected representatives, we vow to work determinedly to serve you, the students of Miami Dade College, North Campus,” said Hafeeza Rahman, who was selected the 2010-11 North Campus SGA president. “We are here to voice your concerns, stand for your interests and tend to your needs.” The other elected officers are: Angela Macia (vice president), Jude Pierre (treasurer), JaRod An d e r s o n ( g o v e r n m e n t a l relations director) and Danyelle Carter (public relations director). “We intend to put our best effort forth by surveying students,
Student Government Association For more information about North Campus’ SGA, stop by Room 4204 or contact:
T B
(305) 237-1644 NSGA@MDC.EDU
36 VOTERS ABSTAINED TOTAL VOTES
864
VOTES
DANYELLE CARTER PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR
JUDE PIERRE TREASURER
Danyelle Carter, 21, is a mass communications and sign language interpretation major. She will serve as the North Campus Student Government Association public relations director for 2010-11 school year. She served as SGA vice president last year. In addition, Carter is the Florida Junior Community College Student Government Association district one coordinator.
Jude Pierre, 20, is a nursing major who plans to acquire certification in horticulture. He will serve as the North Campus Student Government Association treasurer for 2010-11 school year. Pierre has participated in a youth organization called Pathfinders, which helps people to develop spiritually, mentally and physically.
PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR ELECTION RESULTS
TREASURER ELECTION RESULTS
WINNER DANYELLE CARTER
799
65 VOTERS ABSTAINED UNOPPOSED
TOTAL VOTES
864
VOTES
SGA ADVISERS
analyzing current issues and eventually making a difference, “ said Carter, who served as North Campus SGA vice president during the 2009-10 school year. Working closely with the North Campus SGA will be Mariajose Ortega, last year’s governmental relations director, and this year’s Florida Junior Community College Student Government Association president. FJCCSGA represents 28 colleges, and 1.3 million students in the state of Florida. “I intend to focus on developing leadership skills state-wide and the importance that one’s presentation has in succeeding in life,” Ortega said. “This year, Miami Dade College will step up and represent its students beyond its ability.” Although SGA’s definite plans will not be finalized until the fall, they are hoping to conduct numerous communal activities and services, advocating for issues that affect students such as Bright Futures, residency for in-state tuition and textbook affordability.
WINNER JUDE PIERRE
2nd PLACE SARA GARCIA
535 300 VOTES
29 VOTERS ABSTAINED TOTAL VOTES
864
VOTES
EVELYN RODRIGUEZ ADVISER
JAIME ANZALOTTA CO-ADVISER
Evelyn Rodriguez, 27, is the student organization coordinator for the student life department at Miami Dade College’s North Campus. She serves as the adviser to the Student Government Association at MDC’s North Campus and is the Florida Junior Community College Student Government Association district one adviser. Rodriguez is a graduate of the North Campus where she served as a secretary and public relations director for SGA.
Jaime Anzalotta, 30, is the director of the student life department at Miami Dade College’s North Campus. He serves as Student Government Association co-adviser. Anzalotta, who has worked at MDC for 13 years, performs a variety of tasks at the campus including serving on the Learning Outcomes Assessment Team Committee and is the co-chair of the North Campus commencement committee. Anzalotta is a graduate of the North Campus.
WWW.MDC.EDU/FALCONTIMES
entertainment
Page 8 June 14, 2010 BOOK REVIEW
An inspiring memoir of endurance Jose Brown Wolfson Bureau On Jan. 31, 2009 Roxana Saberi was forced from her Tehran apartment and accused of espionage by Iranian Intelligence agents. In her first book, Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran, Saberi, an Iranian-American journalist, recounts the horrifying 100 days she spent as a prisoner. When Saberi traveled to her father’s home country, Iran, her goal was to enlighten westerners on Iran’s society and culture. She conducted interviews with Iranians ranging from political figures to local citizens, but she had no idea that she was under the watchful eye of Iran’s Intelligence Agency. Then everything changed. When Saberi was finishing her research and making arrangements to return to the United States, she was arrested. Her captors accused her of spying for the U.S. government,
specifically the CIA. They informed her that unless she confessed to being a spy, she would be taken to Evin Prison, an institution that houses political prisoners. The prison has a reputation of using torture to force confessions. In her book, Saberi writes a brutally honest account of her experience as a prisoner. She uses vivid insight to illustrate the spiritual and psychological battles she faced. Saberi said she was told that her only passage to freedom rested on a videotaped confession to espionage and her agreement to become a spy for the Iranian Intelligence Agency by providing information on close friends. Although Saberi eventually gave in and confessed, she recanted her confession after meeting several of her female inmates, who inspired her through their faith and resolve. The pages of Between Two Worlds are dripping with insight into Iran’s political and social
atmosphere, as well as advice to journalists who aspire to be foreign correspondents. This book is a must-read for anyone majoring in journalism or dreaming of working abroad.
Chuck Palahniuk’s latest novel Tell-All pays homage to old Hollywood, centering on the life of fading movie star Katherine “Miss Kathie” Kenton and her relationship with her maid, Hazie Coogan. Coogan, a life-long caretaker of the aging actress, narrates the novel. She takes it upon herself to chase off gold-digging suitors, hoping to protect Kenton’s emotional integrity. When a “gentleman caller” by the name of Webster Carlton Westward III manages to weasel
PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAWN GRANT
Claim to Fame: Palahniuk (above) is the author of Fight Club, which was turned into a major motion picture starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.
COMPILED BY AILYN FOJO / WOLFSON BUREAU
PREMIERES JUNE 11
Directed by Joe Carnaham; starring Liam Neeson, Sharlton Copley, Jessica Biel. Synopsis: Four Iraqi War veterans are framed for a crime they did not commit and look to clear their names. Pre-Review: A movie I would enjoy watching for its action, comedic script, and all-star cast. Don’t think it will be enough to beat The Karate Kid in the box office though.
TOY STORY 3 Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran
by Roxana Saberi HarperCollins Publishers 2010
Writer employs hollywood magic; confuses readers in the process his way into Miss Kathie’s heart (and boudoir), Coogan is put on high alert. She discovers that Westward has more in mind than just “hanky-panky;” he has already written a tell-all memoir, in which Miss Kathie dies via musical extravaganza. Coogan worries that Westward’s intends to kill Miss Kathie, to validate his alreadywritten memoir, which he plans to get rich off. Coogan does everything in her power to push Westward away, however, it becomes more difficult as Miss Kathie fantasizes about romance with Westward. There’s not much more to the plot. The story is written as a screenplay; every section is labeled in Act-Scene format. All proper nouns are in bold type, which adds emphasis to the name-dropping that Palahniuk uses to recreate the frills of a bygone era. At times, this reader service is masterful. However, its usefulness might be limited, considering Palahniuk’s audience. Most of the names being dropped belong to people who had their 15 minutes of fame 50 years ago. At the same time, the ease with which Palahniuk seems to pull this off leaves readers wondering what’s going on. The name-dropping creates
PREVIEW THE A-TEAM
BOOK REVIEW
Anna Carabeo Staff Writer
SUMMER MOVIE
confusion, and takes time to adjust to, but after the first two “scenes,” the novel starts to pick up. It takes a while for the reader to become engaged in the story, and in my opinion, it was one of the main reasons why I found the story to drag on. Palahniuk’s Tell-All is a wellwritten book, written in an unusual style many might not be familiar with. Palahniuk creates a story that is exaggeratedly vivid and full of imagery, leaving the reader as if they had just left the movies.
PREMIERES JUNE 18
Directed by Lee Unkrich; starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack. Synopsis: After Andy leaves for college the gang of toys is donated to a day care center. Adventure ensues. Pre-Review: Considering this is the third release in the Toy Story franchise, I expect that it will be a mediocre film.
GROWN UPS PREMIERES JUNE 25
Directed by Dennis Dugan; starring Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade. Synopsis: Four high school friends reunite for a Fourth of July weekend after their coach passes away. Pre-Review: A mediocre film starring past-their-prime comedians with the best scenes shown in the trailers.
ECLIPSE
PREMIERES JUNE 30
Directed by David Slade; starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner. Synopsis: Bella will have to choose between Edward and Jacob while facing both Victoria and The Volteri. Pre-Review: Popular, so this movie will ensure a full theater wherever it plays. If the new director seems to have added a darker touch, which may alienate some.
INCEPTION
PREMIERES JULY 16
Directed by Christopher Nolan; starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page. Synopsis: Sci-Fi thriller about mental espionage via dream infiltration. Pre-Review: This will be a movie that will test your wits and play with your mind; Dicaprio continues his role-selecting streak .
EAT, PRAY, LOVE PREMIERES AUGUST 13
Tell-All
by Chuck Palahniuk Doubleday 2010
Directed by David Slade; starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner. Synopsis: A happily married woman realizes her life needs to go in a different direction, and embarks on a round-the-world journey. Pre-Review: This movie meets all the requirements for a great chick flick, and will be flocked to by many.
WWW.MDC.EDU/FALCONTIMES
sports
June 14, 2010 Page 9 MDC BASEBALL
The ‘Price’ is right Hector Gonzalez Sports Editor Former Florida International University head baseball coach Danny Price has been selected to replace Steve Hertz at Miami Dade College. Hertz, who coached the Miami Dade College baseball team for 26 seasons, had 945 wins during his career. He retired in early June. “It’s been a great 25 years at Miami Dade; a priv i l ege and an honor,” Hertz said . “But it is time Price to step back.” P r i c e coached at FIU from 1980 to 2007 where he won 1,086 games. He was also a baseball player at FIU from 1973 to1974. “I was one of the first players on the first baseball team,” Price said,“[the] first to get a hit and first to be a team captain.”
Price said he is ready for his latest challenge. Hertz retired with the highest winning percentage of any Florida community college baseball coach. In addition, more than 150 of his former players signed professional baseball contracts. “I can’t replace him, I have tremendous respect for Hertz and this program,” Price said. “It is exciting and challenging; I look forward to it.” Price’s resume is equally impressive. Some of his former players include major leaguers: Mike Lowell, Brad Eldred, Josh Banks and Mark Worrell. He looks forward to bonding with hisnew team and continuing the legacy Hertz built at MDC, Price said. “Keep it simple; take it one day at a time. I am not going to reinvent the wheel here,” Price said. “I want the players to have fun and get [an] education. I want to teach them to be great human beings as well.”
MDC BASKETBALL PHOTO COURTESY OF MDC ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
National Champions: Pitcher Erika Bennett, who was named the tournament NJCAA MVP, launches a ball toward home plate.
Sharks softball team returns victorious Sharks softball team defeats Wallace State Community College at the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament. Team sets school records for most wins and the fewest losses in a season. Hector Gonzalez Sports Editor The Miami Dade College softball team was all smiles as they arrived at Miami International Airport. They had good reason to feel giddy. The Sharks had just defeated Wallace State Community College (Alabama) at the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament. The win earned the Sharks their first NJCAA championship in softball on May 23, at St. George, Utah. They won all five games they played in at the three- day, 16team tournament, outscoring the competition 46-11. “They were the best team on the field,” Head Coach Carlos Caro said. “They competed to the best of their abilities and they won it.” Pitcher Erika Bennett, who posted a record of 4-0 and a 0.54 ERA while being named the tournament MVP, led the way.
“My pitching was on fire this weekend,” Bennett said. She finished the season with a record of 26-2. But Bennett was not the only one to pack a punch for the Sharks. The team finished the tournament with 11 homers. Freshmen infielder/outfielder Kristen Exposito hit three home runs. The Sharks also had 13 stolen bases and made only three errors. “It was like an explosion with everything that could go right, going right,” Exposito said. “Everyone’s energy went up. Everyone was hitting and awake. This is awesome.” Caro was named the Karen L. Sykes Outstanding Coach of the 2010 NJCAA Tournament. Freshmen outfielder/catcher Veronika Fukunishi, sophomore infielder Simone Suetsugu, sophomore pitcher/infielder Geovanny Nunez, and catcher
Vivian Morimoto were named to the All-Tournament Team. The Sharks finished the year (51-7), setting school records for most wins and the fewest losses in a season. Several of the team’s players have been offered scholarships at four-year schools. Amanda Lara and Bennett both will attend Marshall University, Suetsugu will attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Morimoto has made a verbal commitment to attend Florida Gulf Coast University. Despite losing key players, Caro believes the team is poised to repeat as national champions next year. “It has been the result of hard work throughout the year. We got together, planned it together and accomplished it together,” Caro said. “They won it and next year we will try to do it again.”
ST. GEORGE, UTAH
WWW.MDC.EDU/FALCONTIMES
2010
NJCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT ST. GEORGE, UTAH
MIAMI, FLA.
MOVING ON
Despite a mediocre 12-14 record this past season, the Miami Dade College men’s basketball team found success off the court. Four of the team’s players were offered scholarships to four-year schools. “We are extremely proud of all our young men that are moving on,” said Head Coach Matt Eisel.
1 ROBERT MARTINA FORWARD HEIGHT: WEIGHT: HOMETOWN: TRANSFERING TO:
6’ 7” 202 lbs. Pompano Beach, Florida Manhattan College
2 RAFAEL PORTUONDO GUARD HEIGHT: WEIGHT: HOMETOWN: TRANSFERING TO:
5’ 10” 153 lbs. Miami, Florida Florida State University
21 ELOY VARGAS FORWARD HEIGHT: WEIGHT: HOMETOWN: TRANSFERING TO:
6’ 11” 210 lbs. Moca, Dominican Republic University of Kentucky
34 FREDDY ASPRILLA CENTER HEIGHT: WEIGHT: HOMETOWN: TRANSFERING TO:
6’ 9” 290 lbs. Bogotá, Colombia Kansas State University
10658_MDC:Layout 1
5/18/10
12:23 PM
Page 1
Barry is one-on-one attention As an award-winning news anchor for 610 WIOD-AM, Nathalie Rodriguez speaks to thousands of South Floridians each morning. She credits BARRY UNIVERSITY’S communication program with opening her eyes to the various avenues available in the field. “You can’t beat BARRY’S one-on-one attention and top-of-the-line education. BARRY is a part of me forever.”
www.barry.edu/Communication
Nathalie Rodriguez News Anchor WIOD 610-AM
Bachelor’s and master’s programs in broadcast communication and public relations Real world experiences • Intimate learning environment • Dynamic, accessible faculty Main Campus: 11300 NE Second Avenue • Miami Shores, Florida 33161-6695 • 800-695-2279
opinions
Rebeka Silva Columnist All endings are beginnings; we just don’t know it at the time. So I will say my goodbyes at the beginning. I can finally wave away the countless classes, tests, the library, the newsroom, the cafeteria and the stress. But I cannot wave away everything I have learned, and I am not talking about the pythagorean theorem. After two years at Miami Dade College I learned many things. I learned to be friends with people I never talked to, and to cut ties with those I’ve known for years. I learned to appreciate Cuban coffee. I learned that I need to eat lunch before 2 p.m. I learned to juggle tests, newspaper deadlines, botany presentations and dinner with friends. I learned that a narrative lede has its place too. I learned that a catastrophe could make me feel insignificant. I learned that choosing your battles is the wise thing to do, and I learned I wasn’t that wise.
I didn’t know half as much as I came into MDC thinking I knew. The point I am trying to make is that this is just the beginning, and if the knowledge I seem to have gained seems insignificant, it’s not. These beginnings lead to my future, as it will for many of my fellow graduated peers, and the sophomore and freshman to come. To the freshman and sophomores I say : do not conform. Your life will not be over if you receive a B grade in a class or if you decide that the class your adviser put you in isn’t what is best for you. Speak up and tell advisors if you don’t want a particular class. Learn, as I did, to choose what is best for you by what you love to do, not what others say you will love to do. Learn to speak out against unfairness and favoritism; most importantly learn to ask why. Learn to not be ashamed of being different. And if you get a B or C, do not tear yourself to pieces, because it could have been worse, you could have failed. But in the end, it always comes back to the beginning. “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” —Seneca, a Roman philosopher, in the mid-1st century AD.
June 14, 2010 Page 11
GRADUATION
Looking at a brand new Horizon
THE FALCON TIMES a Est. 1961 b
B 11380 N. W. 27 Avenue, Room 4209 Miami, FL 33167
1 2
T T
(305) 237-1255 (305) 237-1253
Editorial Board Monique Madan Editor-in-Chief Alexandra de Armas Managing Editor Michael Finch News Editor Jeannie Rodriguez Features Editor Hector Gonzalez Sports Editor Lazaro Gamio Art Director Sergio N. Candido Multimedia Editor Cassie Mestre Advertising Manager
Staff O. Danilo Balladares Jose Brown Anna Carabeo Ernesto Ferris Ailyn Fojo Theo Karantsalis Alexandra Kramer Zoraida Pastor Mark Pulaski Rebeka Silva Akeem Mayers
ILLUSTRATION BY AKEEM MAYERS / FALCON TIMES STAFF
Manolo Barco Adviser
EDUCATION
Governor Charlie Crist vetoes Senate Bill 6
Ernesto Ferris Columnist When I first heard about Senate Bill 6, I thought it was a bill on income taxes and spending. But then I heard the specifics,
and angry thoughts rushed through me. I wondered how anyone with common sense could want to keep pushing down a profession that is constantly beaten down: teaching. The bill sought to eliminate tenure for new and incoming teachers, as well as basing salary on student test scores such as the FCAT. In addition, unlike now when standardized tests focus solely on reading, math, writing and science, other classes would have “end-of-year
ILLUSTRATION BY LAZARO GAMIO / FALCON TIMES STAFF
WWW.MDC.EDU/FALCONTIMES
exiting exams” (imagine taking FCAT Art or FCAT History?). The bill itself would have based a teacher’s income on those tests, and according to Senator John Thrasher it would have been “effective and progressive” when it comes to “our children’s education.” Teachers, parents and students protested against the bill. They believed it would have killed a teacher’s creativity in the classroom. Students walked out of class, orchestrated sit-ins and
protested with teachers. There was relatively low support for the bill. The main proponents of the bill said it would allow the system to “weed out the bad teachers,” however, tests aren’t a full-proof way to determine how good or bad a teacher is. The bill would have negated incentives for teachers to reach higher education levels for themselves such as masters’ degrees, special certifications, sponsoring school clubs or even teaching overtime night classes. But the main problem I had with Senate Bill 6 was that it made no effort to make the noble profession of teaching more appealing. As I read reactions on the web, I realized the bill would have destroyed a whole generation’s dream of teaching in Florida. The bill would have made it impossible to progress as a teacher because student success and teacher raises would depend strictly on test scores. This is no motivation for teachers to go out and inspire. Where have the days of field trips, experiments and actual teaching gone? The good news is that Florida Governor Charlie Crist vetoed the bill. But that is not the end of it. Senator John Thrasher said the bill will be revisited. I think Florida would be a better place if we didn’t make the teaching profession a political move.
The Falcon Times is published by the students of Miami Dade College North Campus. Decisions regarding content are made by student editors. The opinions in this newspaper do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty, or the student body.
Advertising For ad information, contact Cassie Mestre, advertising manager.
T (305) 237-7657
8 cassiemestre@gmail.com Letters to the Editor The Falcon Times welcomes letters to the editor. All submissions should be 300 words or less and must be typed. The writer must sign their full name, phone number, address, student number, and e-mail address on the letter in order to be considered. Faculty and staff should include the title, department, and extension. All letters are subject to editing. Letters can be sent via e-mail to thefalcontimes@gmail.com, with the subject “letter to the editor.”
Corrections Found an error in the newspaper? Let us know.
T (305) 237-1253
8 thefalcontimes@gmail.com
The Biggest Party this Side of the Galaxy August 12-15, 2010 | orange County Convention Center | orlando, FL
Featuring cast & crew celebrities, fans, costumes, collectibles & panels, music, live entertainment, and autograph signings by special guests including George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, plus so many more.
www.starwarscelebration.com © 2010 Lucasfilm Ltd., ® and ™. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.
Stay Closer To Home. Go Farther In Life.
Higher education is closer than you think. Lynn University in Boca Raton presents a world of opportunities. • financial aid packages tailored to your needs • automatic junior status if you already have your AA degree • real-world majors including business, psychology, sports management, communication and education • small classes averaging 16 students • outstanding study abroad opportunities • internships that help you build your résumé before you graduate Adult evening programs are also available. Call us for more information.
Visit Lynn for a personal tour on any weekday or Saturday, or attend an open house. To schedule your tour, call 561-237-7550 or e-mail admission@lynn.edu. Undergraduate Program
Graduate Program
Saturday
Saturday
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Oct. 16
Dec. 11
youtube.com/LynnUni blogs.lynn.edu
LY NN UNIVERSITY
Saturday
Aug. 17
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday
Nov.17
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
twitter.com/LynnUniversity lynn.edu/facebook
3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33431 | www.lynn.edu 561-237-7550 | 1-800-888-5966 | admission@lynn.edu
Lynn University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability and/or age in administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and /or other school-administered programs.